Thomas MacGregor — Blue Heaven

Thomas MacGregor’s EP Blue Heaven is out now on Pink House Records.

It’s guitar and lyric driven music, where the lyrics strike an artful balance between embellishing and dancing around a topic/story/feeling and cracking open the essence of a thought, leading to some memorable hooks and melodies. The overwhelming feeling is one of reflection and honesty, and it’s all framed really well by the orchestration and arrangements.

The tune ‘Hot Sun Sweat’ from this EP is in the RTRFM Sound Selection for the week of October 14th, 2024.

Recorded by Thomas MacGregor
Mixed by Jeremy Segal
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at ENCODER Sound.

Thomas MacGregor — Training Wheels

‘Training Wheels,’ the new single from Thomas MacGregor is out now on Pink House Records, in anticipation of the Blue Heaven EP.

Reflections on the journey of a solo artist highlighting perseverance and patience through a wash of space and synthesis. The synth + vocal combo melody sits really nice in this one and the arrangement unfolds and builds to an understatedly classic guitar solo.

Blue Heaven is out in full on October 19th, 2024.

Recorded by Thomas MacGregor
Mixed by Jeremy Segal
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at ENCODER Sound.

Odlaw — Friends Lose Friends

Out now on Blue Grey Pink is the latest from Odlaw, ‘Friends Lose Friends.’

This one’s a moving work that I find impossible to listen through without a tear in the eye. It’s beautifully poignant, resonating on a very human feeling of loss that patiently evolves into an uplifting call for connection. The carefully crafted, simple language and sympathetic arrangement allow the listener to incorporate their own experience in the listening, making for a very real emotional reaction.

Artwork by Dan Grant
Recorded and mixed by Mitch McDonald
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at ENCODER Sound.

Alice Humphries — One Thing at a Time

Alice Humphries’ latest composition One Thing at a Time for solo cello is out now.

Humphries composition foregrounds the cello’s flair for drama and texture and is a masterclass in momentum, balancing the push and pull between listener expectation and reaction. My favourite moments are those of simple melody texturally embellished or varied through bow, or other, techniques. The five movements exquisitely performed by Blair Harris in Melba Hall (Melbourne Conservatory of Music) and expertly captured by David Wilkinson.

My role in this one was sonically minimal, with nothing but some gain applied at the mastering stage and final quality control listening and checks. All the heavy lifting by:

Cello Blair Harris
Art/design Sarah Tout
Recorded and mixed by David Wilkinson
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at ENCODER Sound.

Nathan Staggers — A Conversation Between Lover

Nathan Staggers’ new single ‘A Conversation Between Lovers’ is out everywhere today. As with the previous ‘The Arsonist,’ Nathan’s vocal sits intimately in front of the listener, but this time amongst live strings, roomy percussion, and at points a clarinet. The band moves the music through shades light to dark in concert with the lyrics. Really great, organic ensemble playing on this track.

Recorded and mixed by Ezekiel Padmanabham
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at ENCODER Sound.